A regional court in Pasig City has ordered the arrest of Porac Mayor Jaime V. Capil in connection with his alleged involvement in illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) within his municipality.
Seven Counts of Graft Charges
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 265 issued the warrant against the local chief executive. Presiding Judge Josephine Advento signed the document on November 28, 2025, directing Capil to face the charges against him.
The mayor is confronting seven counts of alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. These charges are detailed in Criminal Case Nos. R-PSG-25-03386-CR to R-PSG-25-03392-CR.
Allegations of Unauthorized POGO Permits
The cases stem from accusations that Mayor Capil approved and renewed the business permits for an entity known as Lucky South 99. This approval allegedly allowed the company to operate as a POGO despite lacking the necessary documents and legal requirements.
The core of the allegation is that the mayor facilitated the operation of an offshore gaming hub without proper authorization, potentially breaching anti-corruption laws.
Mayor's Camp Seeks Verification, Vows Cooperation
In response to the reports, the camp of Mayor Capil, often referred to as "Jing," stated that they have not yet received formal notification. They emphasized that there is "no official detailed statement yet from the mayor" regarding the warrant.
"The mayor and his legal team are still in the process of verifying the reported warrant allegedly issued by the Honorable Regional Trial Court of Pasig City, as no official notice or copy of the information has been formally furnished to Mayor Capil as of this time," his group clarified.
Despite this, they assured the public of the mayor's willingness to comply with legal procedures. "Please be assured that Mayor Jing Capil will submit himself to the requirements of the law, as long as due process is duly accorded to him," the statement added, indicating his readiness to face the judicial process once formally served.
This development adds to the ongoing national scrutiny of POGO operations and their regulatory compliance, highlighting the legal risks for local officials accused of enabling unauthorized activities.
